Hirschaid is a small town on the railway line between Nürnberg and Bamberg with frequent S-Bahns stopping there. It has all the services you might need and most importantly, it has a fine brewery that offers not only hot meals at all times but also good value rooms.
Brauerei Kraus
Luitpoldstraße 11
96114 Hirschaid
Tel: 09543-84440
www.brauerei-kraus.de
Hirschaid Station 550 meters
Opening hours:
Closed on Tuesday
daily from 6:30 (yes, am!)
From May 1st until the beginning of September:
In good weather, the Biergarten is open every day
Output: 10000 HL
Founded in 1845, the Kraus family run enterprise is thriving but still personal with everyone always commenting on the friendliness of the owners. With its own butcher and warm meals always on offer, it’s an eating destination as much as one for drinking. Their full portfolio of beers are all worth sampling and you’ll be happy they also offer rooms if you are driving. Of course, with the train station only a short walk away, that wouldn’t be necessary. Still, with so many good breweries on nice walking trails from here, it’s a nice overnight stop nonetheless.
My first time here was in summer so I got to enjoy their small but bustling Biergarten out back. I had a great Schäuferla and sampled a couple of their beers including the tasty Hirschentrunk, a smokey dry brew.
Schäuferla & Hirschentrunk were a tasty combination
The next time was with my wife when we used the brewery as a pitstop on our way to Bamberg for my birthday. I had the same meal and my wife had duck breast. I was happy to find their Bock on tap, too.
Duck breast & a quick Hirschentrunk
Stopped very briefly again with a beer loving buddy from the US, who wandered with me to 12 breweries in four days. We basically hopped off and back on the train, the beauty of the proximity to the station. We had just enough time for a quick Hirschentrunk!
another tasty Schäuferla at Kraus
Finally got to spend the night at Kraus and the room was good value and being right on top of the brewpub certainly has its merits. I finally got to try their Lagerbier, resampled the classic and still great Hirschentrunk and a seasonal Festbier.
Beers: Kraus Lager, Kraus Pils, Kraus Hefeweizen, Hirschentrunk
Beer calendar:
- Kirchweih is the 1st weekend in September
- Bockbier Anstich is the beginning of November
- Festbier in December
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